Gospel: May 6, 2025
May 6, 2025 (Tuesday)
3rd Week of Easter
Psalter: Week 3 / (White)
Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 & 7b
& 8a, 17 & 21ab
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
1st Reading: Acts 7:51—8:1a
Gospel: John 6:30-35
They then said, “Show us miraculous signs, that we may see and believe you. What sign do you perform? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert; as Scripture says: They were given bread from heaven to eat.” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven. My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. The bread God gives is the One who comes from heaven and gives life to the world.” And they said to him, “Give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall never be hungry, and whoever believes in me shall never be thirsty.
Reflection:
“Lord, Jesus receive my spirit.”
The trial and death of Stephen reflect Christ’s own Passion, showing that Stephen truly lived an imitation of Christ that ran far deeper than actions, but to his very core. Before his accusers he is angelic and calm, and unafraid to challenge falsehood. His union with Christ helps him to see the glory of heaven. The words of Stephen also reflect Christ’s. As he dies, Stephen says, “Lord, Jesus receive my spirit”, similar to Christ’s words to his Father (Lk 23:46). Both are compassionate to their killers and pray for them. The one who does not see clearly in this passage is the young and zealous Saul. He approves of the killing, seeing Stephen as a blasphemer, someone who is far from God rather than intimately united to him. And on that day religious hatred is whipped up into the start of a persecution of Christians. Such hatred still scars nations to this day, and so Pope Francis calls religious leaders to be “heralds of peace,” who reject the “narrative of fear” and act “with gestures opposed to the rhetoric of hatred.” United to Christ, may we all be witnesses to our faith and instruments of peace.
